Reeling device for strip metal



April 30, 1946. F. J. wooD 2,399,418

REELING DEVICE FOR STRIP METAL Filed July 10, 1944 s Sheets-Sheet 1 n 27 -1 317 M1 lulu 45 o O I jmzurob 71 mgmz ArroRNs-Y April 0, 1946. F. J. wooD 2,399,418

REELING'DEVICE FOR STRIP METAL q pt -f Z VVENTOR ATTORNE Y 'l'IIIIIIIIIIIIIII'IIIIII T Mum h April 30, 1946. F. J. WOOD 2,399,418

REELING DEVICE FOR STRIP METAL Filed July 10, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented A r. 30,1946

REELlNG DEVICE FOR s'rmr METAL Frank J. Wood, Riverside, m., assignor to Goodman Manufacturing Company, Chicago, 11]., a

corporation of Illinoi Application July 10, 1944, Serial No. 544,247 (Cl. 242-16) I Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in reeling devices for strip metal, and more particularly relates to an improved floating reeling device adapted to follow the strip metal as it moves laterally from side of side during-the coiling operation so as to provide a coil with aligned edges.

Floating reelsior strip metal have heretofore been used. These reels have usually been mounted in rectilinear guides and have been moved back and forth in these guides, as the strip metal weaves back and forth duringthe coiling operation, by means 01' a reversible motor. Movement of the reel has been .controlled by means of a photo-electric scanning head, which is focused on the edge of the strip so that whenever the edge of the stripgets oil center, an electrical impulse is initiated which starts the reversible motor in one direction or another, to cause, the reel to follow the strip' and keep the edges of the coil square.

amount of power is required to shift the reelmetal. and chattering is present during the shift- Such floating reels have not been entirely satisfactory in that the reeling mechanism is quite heavy and an undue ing operation, due to this weight of the reeling mechanism, which impairs the sensitivity of movement of the reeling device and results in difficulty in guiding and mounting the. reelng mechanism for rectilinear movement with the reffi The"principal objects of my invention are to overcome these difliculties by providing an antifriction support for a reeling device for strip metal, permitting the reeling device to be moved back and forth with the strip metal, as it weaves from one side to the-other, with a minimum amount of eflort,including means moving in I provide a novel form of counterbalanced antifriction mounting for a reeling devicefor strip metal, which includes a plurality of parallel links iournaled intermediate their ends for rocking movement in a vertical plane, forming an time to time as the following specification proceeds, and with reference tothe accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure l is a plan view in outline of a. reeling device constructed in accordance with my invention; I V

Figure 2 is an outline view in side elevation of .the reeling device shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a view in side elevation somewhat similar to Figure 2, but showing the reeling device in a different position than in Figure 2;

Figure 4 isan enlarged end view of the reelllng device, showing in outline a belt wrapper in a withdrawn position, for initially coiling the metal on the reel;

Figure 5 is an enlarged side view of the reeling device with certain parts broken away and certain other parts shown in substantially longitudinal section;

' Figure 6 is an enlarged detail fragmentary transverse sectional view, showing certain details of the anti-friction mounting for the reeling device on its supporting base; and

Figure 7 is a partial fragmentary detail plan view showing certain details of the power drive connection, for moving the reeling device back and forth with the strip metal.

In the embodiment of my invention illustrated in the drawings, areeling device In for the strip metal is shown as being mounted on a base ii on the upper ends of a plurality of upright parallel links i2, i2, for movement with respect to said base in a direction laterally of the strip metal to permit said reeling device to mo e back and forth with the strip metal, to con mm to back and forth weaving movement thereof as it is being coiled on an expansible reel or block it, so as to keep the edges of the turns of the coiled strip metal in alignment with each other.

belt wrapper serves to initially guide and wind the strip metal on said reel in a well known anti-friction support for the reeling device at 1 their upper. ends and moved back and forth. by power upon back and forth weaving movement of the strip metal.

Other objects of my invention will appear from manner, and is withdrawn from the reel after the metal has been initially started thereon, and said reel has been expanded to firmly grip the metal. 7 r

The coiled strip metal is removed from the reel I I by means of a coil supporting carriage l'l. Said carriage'may be. of any well known form and, as herein shown, eonsistsof a roller platform It which may be elevated to lift the weight of the 0011- from the reel i5, when said reel is retracted, and which is'moved away from said reel to remove the coil from the end thereof. Said carriage is suitably guided on the base If for movement away from the reel, on flanged wheels i9, it. The details of construction of said carriage and the means for elevating said platform and for moving said carriage towards or away from said reel, are no part of my present invention so need not herein be shown or described in detail.

The reeling device ll includes a frame 2l'having a pair of parallel spaced side walls 2!, 2!.

Said frame is journaled on the upper ends of the parallel links i2, i2 on spaced anti-friction bearings 22, 22 (see Figured). Said bearings are herein shown as being ball bearings and form an anti-friction support for stub shafts 22, 23

projecting laterally from opposite side walls of said frame, and are also arranged to take care of all side thrusting loads which maybe imparted to said linksthrough said frame, during the coiling operation. Said stub shafts are mounted in inwardly extending bosses 24, 24, formed integrally with the side walls ofsaid frame.

The frame to has a top platform 25, which has a motor 21 mounted thereon for rotatablydriving the reel IS. The drive connection from said motor to said reel includes a gear reduction train 29 driven by said motor through a flexible coupling 30. Said gear reduction train is'enclosed in a split casing 31 mounted on the frame 20 and extending beneath the top platform 25, and has a gear 32 as a final drive element, which is keyed 'on a hollow shaft 33, for driving said shaft from which are mounted on said shaft for rectilinearv opposite side walls are in alignment witheach other and are adapted to form supports for the ends of shafts 49, 49 extending transversely of said coiling device. Said shafts form supports for the parallel links i2, 12, each of which links is mounted thereon, adjacent the inside of each wall, on a pair of spaced anti-friction bearings 50, IL Said anti-friction bearings are herein shown as being ball bearings arranged to take care of 'all side thrusting loads imparted to said links during the coiling operation. Each pair of said bearings is mounted within a bearing support boss 5|, formed intermediate the ends of each link.

The lower ends of the parallel links i2, i2 have anti-friction bearings 55, mounted therein. Each of said anti-friction bearings has the outer end of a stub shaft 56 journaled therein, the

' inner end of which shaft extends from a counterweight 51 mounted between and connecting the lower ends of'said parallel'links together, and moving in opposite phase relationship with respect to the reeling device It, to counterbalance the weight thereof and "cut down the effort re- .quired to move said reeling device back and forth.

The counterweight Bl, links l2, l2 and reelin device It are held in a fixed position or are.

moved to cause said reeling device to follow the strip metal by means of a reversible motor 58.

The connection between said motor and counterweight includes two pair of parallel spaced ears 59. "mounted on the end of said counterweight opposite from the reel ii. A link 60 is adapted to be pivotally connected between each pair of said ears by means of a pivotal pin ill (see Figure 7) The opposite ends of said links are mounted on trunnion shafts BI, 83. projecting from opposite sides of a split collar 84, journaled On a sleeve 85 threaded on a, threaded shaft 56. Opposite ends of said threaded sleeve are flanged so as to cause said collar to move rectilinearly theremovement therealcng. and which are driven from said shaft (see Figure 5) Said cams are engaged at their outer ends by a cap piece II, slidably mounted in the outer end of said shaft. and are moved along said shaft upon, rectilinear movement of said cap piece. A rod ,4 journaled within said hollow shaft is secured to said cap piece at one of its ends and is connected at its opposite'end with a piston rod ll. extensible from a fluid pressure cylinder 42. The connection from said rod to said piston rod includes a connecting member I mountedonaaidpistonrodona thrust bearing ll, so as to rectilinearly move said rod'upon movement of said piston rod, and to permit said rod to'rotate with said shaft and reel timing the coiling operation. l 'luidunder pressure may be supplied to the head and piston rod ends of said cylinder, to expand said reel or to permit it to retract. in any well. known manner. which is not herein shown or described ti!!! detail since it is no part of my present inven- Referring now in particular to the details of the floating. mounting of the frame 2| and reellugdevieeilonthebaselLeaidbaseispi-ovided with two-parallel spaced upright walla ll, ll. Each of saidwalll has abose 41 mounted at each end of its upper edge. Said bosses: on to electrical impulse is initiatedwhieh resultfin .lightiapoeitionedaoaatobefocuaedatthe with upon rotation of said threaded shaft. Said threaded shaft is journaled at one or its ends in a cross frame member 61, connected between the side walls 45, I! of thebase II, and is journaled at its opposite end in bearings 88, Cl, mounted in a bearing support member It. mounted on a top plate 10 of said base.

The threaded shaft I is driven from a speed I reducer ll through a coupling 12 which is driven from the motor I. through a flexible coupling I3. Thus rotation of said motor will pivot said parallel links about the axes of the shafts ll. II, which will move the reeling device II with the strip metal in a direction opposite to the direction of movement of the counterweight If. so the reel ll may follow the strip metal during lateral weaving movement thereof.

The control means for the motor N, which causes the reeling device it to follow the strip metal during lateral weaving movement thereof. includes a photo-electric scanning head 11 gounted on and movable with said reelingdeco. light II mounted on an' arm It, which projects from the frame 20 of said reeling device. towards the strip metal; As herein shown. said source of edge of the strip metal. and project its'light to a photo-electric cell ll. which is disposed beneath the path of travel of the strip metal and which is also mounted on acid arm 1'. Whenever the edge of the strip metalgets slightly of! center, an

Bald scanning head includes a source of the coil'in alignment with each other.

starting themotor 58 in one direction or another, to shift the reel about the axes of the shafts I9, 49 to the correct position of the reel with respect to the metal, to keep the edges of I As soon as the edge of the strip is exactly centeredgunder said source of light, there is no signal to move, and the reel stays stationary. Said photo-electric cell and the control means initiated thereby for starting and stopping the motor 58, may be of any well known form and are no part of my present invention so are not herein shown or described in detail.

While I have shown and described one form in which-my invention may be'embodied, it will be understood that the "construction thereof and the arrangement of the various parts may be altered without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. Furthermore, I donot wish to be construed as limiting my.invention to the specific embodiment illustrated, excepting as it may be limited in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention: a

1. In a reeling device for strip metal, a frame, an expansi-ble reel mounted on said frame and overhanging one end thereof, means mounted on said frame for rotatably driving said reel, means for mounting and for moving said frame and reel laterally with the strip metal to conform to back and forth weaving movement thereof during the coiling operation including a plurality of parallel links, bearing means for pivotally mounting said links intermediate their-ends, and bearing means for supporting said frame on the upper ends of said links. a v

2. In a reeling device for strip metal, a frame, an expansiblereel mounted on saidframe and overhanging one end thereof, means mounted on said frame for rotatably driving said reel, means for mounting said frame for back and forth movement during the coiling operation to correspond to back and forth weaving movement of the strip to said base, to conform to back and forth weaving movement of the strip metal, and a mounting V for said frame on said base, supporting said frame and reel for back and forth movement with respect to said base including a plurality of upright parallel links'journaied on said base intermediate their ends, and bearing mountings for said frame on the upper ends of said links.

5. In a reeling device for strip metal, a base, a frame an expansible reel mounted on saidframe and overhanging one end thereof, means mounted on said frame for rotatably driving said reel, a bearing mounting for said frame on said base, supporting said frame and reel for back and forth movement with respect to said base to conform to back and forth weaving movement of the strip metalincluding a plurality of upright parallel links, bearing means for mounting said links on said base intermediate their ends, power means connected with the lower endsof said links, for

moving said links back and forth, to cause their upper ends to conform to'weaving movement of the strip metal, and bearing mountings for said frame on the upper ends of said links.

metal including a plurality of parallel links, bearing means for mounting said parallel links-intermediate their ends, for pivotal movement towards and from the strip metal, bearing means for sub-' porting said frame on the upper ends of said links. a reversible motor .connectedwlth thelower ends of said links, for moving said links and frame back and forth duringthe coiling operation, and

a counterweight journaled on the lower ends of said links to counterbalance the weight of said a frame and reel.

3. In a reeling device for strip metal, a base, a

frame, an expanslble reel mounted on said frame posite ends of said links for moving said links and frame back and forth during back and forth weaving movement of the strip metal.

4. In a reeling device for strip metal, a base, a frame, an expansible reel mounted on said frame and overhanging one end thereof, means mounted on said frame for rotatably driving said reel, means for moving said frame and reel with respect 6. In a reeling device for strip metal, a base, a frame, an expansible' .reel mounted on said frame and overhanging one end thereof, means mounted on said frame for rotatably driving said reel, a bearing mounting for said frame on said base, supporting said frame and reel for back and forth movement with respect to said base to conform to back and forth weaving movement of the strip metal including a plurality of sub-- stantially vertically extending parallel links, bearing means for mounting said links on said base intermediate their ends, areversible motor,

a drive connection from said motor to the lower ends of said. links, for moving said links so their forth movement with the strip metal.

7. In a reeling device for strip metal, a base, a frame, an expansible reel mounted on said frame and overhanging the end thereof, means 'mounted on said frame for rotatably driving said reel, a bearing mounted for said frame on said base, supporting said frame and reel for back and forth movement with respect to said base, to conform to back and forth weaving movment of the strip metal includinga plurality of substantially vertically extending parallel links,

bearing means for mounting said linlm on said base intermediate their ends, bearing means for mounting said frame on the upper ends of said links, to support said frame and reei'for back and forth'movement with the strip metal, a reversible motor for moving said links back and forth during weaving movement of the strip metal, and the drive connection from said motor to said links including a counterweight ,iournaled on the lower ends of said links and counterbalancing the weight of said frame and reel.

8. A hearing support for a floating reeling device for strip metal and in combination with means for causing said reeling device to move back and forth in conformance with back and forth weaving movement of the strip metal, a

base, a plurality of parallel links, bearing means for mounting said parallel links on said base intermediate their ends, other bearing means for mounting said reeling device on said parallel links adjacent one of the ends of said links, and

a counterweight journaled on the ends of said reducing the power required to move it back and forth.

9. A hearing support for a floating reeling device for strip metal and in combination with means for causing said reeling device to move back and forth in conformance with back and forth weaving movement 0! the strip metal, a base, a plurality of substantially vertically extending parallel links, bearing means for mounting said parallel links on said base intermediate their ends, a reversible motor having operative connection with the lower ends of said links, for moving said links back and forth upon weaving motion of the strip metal, and other bearing means for supporting said coiling device on the upper ends of said links.

10. A hearing support for a floating reeling demeans aaaaua vice for strip metal and in combination'with for causing said reeling device to move back and forth in conformance with back and forth weaving movement of the strip metal, a base, a plurality of substantially vertically extending parallel links, bearing mean, for mounting said parallel links on said base intermediate their ends, a reversible motor having operative v connection with the lower ends of said links, tor

moving said links back and forth upon weaving "motion of the strip metal, other bearing means for supporting saidreeling device on the upper ends .0! said links, and a counterweight journaled on and connecting the lower ends of said links together, to counterbalance the'weight of said reeling device and to reduce the power'required to move said reeling device back and forth.

FRANK J. WQOD. 

